I have no experience with scanners. I wish to identify and log the frequencies used by cyclists, support cars, escort and TV in the OVO Tour of Britain Stage 6 on September 8th.

I acquired a Uniden 75XLT this week. It certainly has a working Close Call facility but, unless as is likely, I have misunderstood the instructions, the acquisition is not automatic. In the sense that you do not hear the signal itself unless you press any button, the Close Call frequencies are not saved and are lost when you switch off, and it only records 10 frequencies.

Ideally, the scan should stop for a few seconds on the signal so you can hear and tell whether it is race commentary, team car, race control or TV. It should then save the frequencies numbered sequentially in permanent memory.

I have not decided whether it is my ignorance which prevents this happening. Or whether this particular scanner does not do this ideal automated logging of Close Call. If not, is there a scanner which does ?

I am running out of time because it takes a while (for me) to get to grips with the varied facilities available on modern scanners. Can anyone advise ? Thank you.Giles

When close call is on. It automatically stops on a active frequency with a VERY strong Signal & to stop it from moving on a few seconds later, you need to press a button. What you need to remember with CC is that it only works if someone is transmitting very close to you. CC can also be used to scan & log any hits. So you could have it in your pocket with the volume down & it will grab anything used close by, for you to later go through & check out.

As m0lsx said. Most Uniden scanners will stop on CC when you press a key. You can then monitor the frequency to ID the user. Log and store the frequency if required into memory to scan, then press any key to continue and repeat as necessary.

Sometimes a distant strong signal will actuate your close call, but an up close one won't. I get close call hits from an aircraft transmitter 3 miles away, a taxi base about 500 yards away, but sometimes have to wave one of my two way radios about a bit a few feet away before it picks up what it is transmitting on.

AndrewIrvine wrote:Sometimes a distant strong signal will actuate your close call, but an up close one won't. I get close call hits from an aircraft transmitter 3 miles away, a taxi base about 500 yards away, but sometimes have to wave one of my two way radios about a bit a few feet away before it picks up what it is transmitting on.

Looks like you two way radios are faulty or maybe your scanner. Get hits with both my Unidens from my UHF/VHF handys with no antenna on and at 1watt

AndrewIrvine wrote:Sometimes a distant strong signal will actuate your close call, but an up close one won't. I get close call hits from an aircraft transmitter 3 miles away, a taxi base about 500 yards away, but sometimes have to wave one of my two way radios about a bit a few feet away before it picks up what it is transmitting on.

Looks like you two way radios are faulty or maybe your scanner. Get hits with both my Unidens from my UHF/VHF handys with no antenna on and at 1watt

It's overload. Andrews scanner is getting a massive signal & it just does not know where to stop. Whilst at one watt with the antenna removed you are preventing your scanner from overloading so your scanner does what it should.

AndrewIrvine wrote:Sometimes a distant strong signal will actuate your close call, but an up close one won't. I get close call hits from an aircraft transmitter 3 miles away, a taxi base about 500 yards away, but sometimes have to wave one of my two way radios about a bit a few feet away before it picks up what it is transmitting on.

Looks like you two way radios are faulty or maybe your scanner. Get hits with both my Unidens from my UHF/VHF handys with no antenna on and at 1watt

It's overload. Andrews scanner is getting a massive signal & it just does not know where to stop. Whilst at one watt with the antenna removed you are preventing your scanner from overloading so your scanner does what it should.

I've had 2 Uniden 3500's since 2008, both were the same. My 3500 uses an MRW100 whip antenna when sitting on my window sill while beside me in my living room. I live in a tower block at 190 feet above sea level. I'd also never key up a two way radio with no antenna attached. The signal also depends on atmospheric conditions. Even though the aircraft transmitter is about 3 miles away, it close call hits sometimes, not always. I have a Skyscan antenna in my bedroom window sill, when the 3500 is attached to that it rarely gets a close call off the transmitter. It's a bit inconsistent. When in Runcorn I get hits off national radio stations where the signal is beamed from Winter Hill, 22 miles away in a straight line.